‘A fresh look.’ What should Palmetto become? City leaders want to hear from you
With new projects planned in key areas, Palmetto leaders hope to refresh city branding while honoring the area’s historical roots.
The City of Palmetto recently launched a “Community Branding Survey,” which Mayor Dan West said gives residents the chance to share opinions about what is important to the community now, and how they see the city changing.
“We’ve begun shaping a vision for Palmetto’s brand based on input from City leadership, highlighting what makes this community special today and where it’s headed next,” the survey states. “Your feedback will help guide how Palmetto tells its story, strengthens community pride, and presents itself to others in the years ahead. With your input, we will develop brand logo and tagline options that reflect the people, character, and future of Palmetto.”
The anonymous survey is available online.
According to West, the survey results will help city leaders as they envision new branding for the city. As the city faces several changes like the upcoming complete streets project on Old Main Street, West said he hopes the new branding will help drive a new aesthetic for the city.
“It’s a really great opportunity for (residents) to give their say as to what they think we should be and become,” West said.
Residents asked to help with city rebranding
West, a lifelong Palmetto resident, said the city started emphasizing its social media usage about a year ago. The start of a social media campaign made West, who first took office in 2024, think more about the city’s overall brand.
One day while driving around Palmetto, West said he started thinking about the city’s welcome signs, which he said have been there for about three decades.
“In light of us starting with the new social media campaign, we’re like, ‘You know what, maybe we need to look at this as somewhat of a rebrand of the city,’” West said. “Not that we’re looking to turn things upside down and change things, but, how about a fresh look.”
The survey includes questions asking residents about what Palmetto is like today, what they hope it will become and important features and symbols for the city.
One symbol mentioned in the survey is the seahorse, represented now by a statue at the city’s entrance near the Green Bridge. The statue pays homage to the former Sea Horse Gift Shop that used to sit on that property with its own seahorse statute, which West described as “a little bit of an icon.”
However, while the city is looking to rebrand, West said he wants to preserve the city’s history.
“One thing that we’ve always been in Palmetto is we’re very, very big on our heritage and our history, and so we never want to lose that,” West said.
Future projects to reshape Palmetto
Another question the survey asks is: “What perceptions or misconceptions about Palmetto do you believe should be improved or changed?”
For West, the rebranding and city improvement projects reflect a larger goal of changing Palmetto from a “pass-through” city to a true destination where people want to visit.
“People come through here, but, you know, we’re wanting people to stop and take in the charm of Palmetto and the things that we have,” West said.
Some of that has to do with “curb appeal,” something the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency is helping with through grants, according to West. There are also several planned projects that could have major impacts on the city.
New developments coming in the next few years will help revamp Palmetto’s riverfront. A 6-story mixed-use development from Gray Property Group and another, similar development led by Mosaic Development will bring apartments, retail and other amenities to the city’s riverfront, representing a combined $120 million investment.
The city is also planning a complete streets project on 10th Avenue West, which include elements like multi-use paths that improve walkability.
The city has a $1.7 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to push the project through design and engineering. West said the complete street project could be complete in about two years, and will span from Riverside Drive to Palmetto High School.
“Once it’s completed, it’ll just be wonderful. I think people will love it, and it’ll draw more businesses to that part of the area that will also add to the flavor of that corridor,” West said.
According to the City of Palmetto’s Facebook, the survey will be open until May 12.
